Educator vows to push for reform

By Yun Suh-young

Seoul’s top educator Kwak No-hyun said Friday he would reject the government’s request for reconsideration of the controversial student rights ordinance, making it clear that he will push his reform agenda.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho urged Kwak to drop the ordinance, indicating an uphill battle with Kwak over school-related issues.

Kwak returned to work only one day after being found guilty of bribery, although he was released from custody. A district court fined him 30 million won Thursday but set him free.

In an address he gave Friday at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), the liberal educator said he will work with a “calm and strong mind.”

“I will push forward with my plans calmly and strongly and strive to open the closed doors wide open again,” he said referring to several of his policies that were halted over the past four months since he was suspended from duty following the prosecutionindictment.

Some of Kwak’s major projects, such as getting the student rights ordinance approved by the city council, came to a halt. Acting SMOE superintendent Lee Dae-young, an aide to Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, had sent it back to the city’s council for reconsideration.

“My body was detained but my mind was not distressed. I have trained my mind and body well for the past 133 days while in prison,” said Kwak, a former law professor. “I have never been fearful or heartbroken. I have learned to make white things whiter and black things blacker. In other words, I have learned what to focus on and what to change.”

The meeting was convened at around 10:30 a.m. and Kwak addressed officials at the office for 30 minutes.

“I plan to address the school violence issue more comprehensively,” he said. “I will deal with the issue with top priority. The right to be free from violence is a fundamental value of the student rights ordinance.”

He added that he will reflect the opinions of students more.

“I don’t hear students’ voices much in this issue. Students are the experts. We need to start hearing their voices,” he said.

Earlier in the day, some conservatives opposing Kwak’s return to office had protested in front of the SMOE building. Some of the protesters followed him to his office on the ninth floor shouting “You should resign!” Kwak will be able to retain his position as superintendent until a final ruling is made at the Supreme Court.